Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 currently has an Informr score of 8.7 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 54
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Incredibly sharp and vibrant display

Snappy processor with no dips in performance

Improved camera for crisper images and better low-light photography

What's bad

Faux-leather back feels cheap

Too big to use one-handed

No visible difference between standard HD and QHD

Samsung is no stranger to large phones and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is no exception. Measuring a whopping 6 x 3.1 x 0.3 inches, the Note 4 is not ideal for one-handed use. Reviewers were pleasantly surprised with its fairly lightweight 176 grams and comfortable grip. Like its predecessor – the Note 3 – the back cover has a faux-leather texture, which 3G states, "…is convincing to look at but not to touch." Instead of the familiar all-plastic build of most Samsung devices, the Note 4 includes a metal frame. This, according to critics, gives the phone a much more premium appearance.

Of course, the most noticeable feature is the 5.7-inch QHD display. With a resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 it boasts an eye-popping pixel density of 500ppi. According to Samsung, the display also adapts to the brightness of your surroundings in essence giving users optimum viewing no matter the situation. When put to the test experts had no problems viewing in low or bright light situations. Thanks to the high pixel density critics found images and videos to be "razor sharp" and incredibly details. Still, they also point out that the improvements were difficult to notice over standard full HD panels when browsing web pages or using basic apps. While not a surprise due to its use of Super AMOLED technology, reviewers still point out that colors are incredibly rich and vibrant. Thanks to a larger screen real-estate, the Note 4 also benefits from software upgrades such as multi-window and other multitasking options.

Users won't be lacking in the power department either as it comes with 2.7GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM. In benchmark and real-life testing reviewers had no issues with any stuttering or lag even when running multiple apps at the same time. Trusted Reviews states, "It effortlessly sailed through everything we could throw at it." As for the all-important battery, Samsung keeps the same 3,220mAh battery as the Note 3 but includes the same ultra-power saving technology as the Samsung S5 and a new Quick charge feature that claims the phone will hit 50 percent charge in 30 minutes. When tested, it took a little longer to reach that half-way point, but not much longer. The device also comes with 32GB of internal storage, a microSD slot that supports cards up to 128GB and 4G connectivity.

For the smartphone photographer, the Note 4 could be an excellent option as it offers a 16MP rear camera and an optical image stabilization feature. In sample shots, critics were impressed with its sharpness, color reproduction and low light pictures. The front of the phone comes with a 3MP camera and includes additional "selfie" features like panorama mode and an easy to find back trigger button.

Experts are incredibly impressed with the Note 4 and highly recommend it for those that don't mind a larger phone. Tech Radar says, "It is big and it is clever: the Galaxy Note 4 looks to be Samsung's best Note yet…" Stuff.TV adds, "Its screen is bright, vibrant and sharp and its insides are some of the most powerful we've seen…Throw in…a specced-up camera and there are plenty of reasons to be excited…"

What the Critics Are Saying...

With the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung got back to winning ways last year, and has since kept up the momentum with the Galaxy S6. Everything was streamlined in the Note 4, in terms of design, specs, interface and even bloat and gimmicks. Even today, the specs are rock solid, and the S Pen remains the bigge...

This may have been true when this was written two years ago. I just purchased a brand new refurbished Note 4 on Amazon for $240 dollars. And it is nice.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most powerful phones you can buy right now. It's got a faster processor than just about every other flagship phone on the market, it's got a better camera than nearly every other phone on the market, and it's got a better battery than just about any other phon...

- TJ Donegan, Reviewed

The Note series gets better with age and it definitely shows with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Its one of the best designed Samsung smartphones on the market body wise and the hardware its running is top notch. The battery life is impressive, its display is gorgeous and the look and feel of the phone...

- Jason Million, G Style Magazine

I have no problem saying that this is the nicest Samsung phone that I’ve ever used. If I were looking to buy an Android smartphone with a large screen, this would be the one I’d recommend. It has a quality build, great screen, good battery life, and extra little features like a micro SD...

- Julie Strietelmeier, The Gadgeteer

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910F) is an excellent smartphone. The material impression is now better and pretty appealing with the metal frame. The Snapdragon 805 is very fast, but the throttling of the Adreno 420 under load is pretty annoying. It will be interesting to see if the SM-N910C version...

If your Galaxy Note 4 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

Sets the bar pretty high, but the price is also pretty high

With the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung got back to winning ways last year, and has since kept up the momentum with the Galaxy S6. Everything was streamlined in the Note 4, in terms of design, specs, interface and even bloat and gimmicks. Even today, the specs are rock solid, and the S Pen remains the biggest selling poin...

With the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung got back to winning ways last year, and has since kept up the momentum with the Galaxy S6. Everything was streamlined in the Note 4, in terms of design, specs, interface and even bloat and gimmicks. Even today, the specs are rock solid, and the S Pen remains the biggest selling point

The design perhaps doesn't ooze premium-ness in light of phones that have come since then, but let's remember that the Note 4 is now a little cheaper than other flagships. The Galaxy Note 4 is a big, sensible phone almost bereft of gimmicks, bloat, or useless features or settings. Almost everything on the Note 4 is essential, and almost everything is done extremely well, leaving nothing but distilled Android excellence that continues to shine.

Improved in almost every way

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most powerful phones you can buy right now. It's got a faster processor than just about every other flagship phone on the market, it's got a better camera than nearly every other phone on the market, and it's got a better battery than just about any other p...More

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most powerful phones you can buy right now. It's got a faster processor than just about every other flagship phone on the market, it's got a better camera than nearly every other phone on the market, and it's got a better battery than just about any other phone on the market. It's a complete package, with a number of useful features that'll make it perfect for business and power users alike.

The Note series gets better with age and it definitely shows with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Its one of the best designed Samsung smartphones on the market body wise and the hardware its running is top notch. The battery life is impressive, its display is gorgeous and the look and feel of the pho...More

The Note series gets better with age and it definitely shows with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Its one of the best designed Samsung smartphones on the market body wise and the hardware its running is top notch. The battery life is impressive, its display is gorgeous and the look and feel of the phone screams premium. Even though it has some hiccups here and there, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 may be one of the best Android smartphones on the market today.

Nice display and good battery life but expensive

I have no problem saying that this is the nicest Samsung phone that I’ve ever used. If I were looking to buy an Android smartphone with a large screen, this would be the one I’d recommend. It has a quality build, great screen, good battery life, and extra little features like a micro...More

I have no problem saying that this is the nicest Samsung phone that I’ve ever used. If I were looking to buy an Android smartphone with a large screen, this would be the one I’d recommend. It has a quality build, great screen, good battery life, and extra little features like a micro SD card slot, replaceable battery, heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, S Pen and more. Although this is a very nice phone, I don’t feel the need to replace my LG G3 right now, so I’m sticking with it. But if I didn’t have the LG G3, I’d definitely be considering the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as my next phone. Samsung continues to churn out quality smartphones. I like what I see with the Note 4 and am looking forward to seeing what the Note 5 brings us next year.

A high-end smartphone with a digitizer

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910F) is an excellent smartphone. The material impression is now better and pretty appealing with the metal frame. The Snapdragon 805 is very fast, but the throttling of the Adreno 420 under load is pretty annoying. It will be interesting to see if the SM-N910C version with Samsung's 64-bit processor Exynos 5433 and ARM Mali-T760 has the same problems...

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910F) is an excellent smartphone. The material impression is now better and pretty appealing with the metal frame. The Snapdragon 805 is very fast, but the throttling of the Adreno 420 under load is pretty annoying. It will be interesting to see if the SM-N910C version with Samsung's 64-bit processor Exynos 5433 and ARM Mali-T760 has the same problems.

The Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution of the Note 4 is probably the best display of its kind right now that you can get in a smartphone. Large color space coverage and accuracy as well as excellent outdoor capabilities don't leave anything to be desired. The mega-smartphone is complemented by a clever digitizer operation and very good communication modules, which are up to date with LTE Cat. 6. The quick charging times are surprising and the battery runtimes are very good.

It is unfortunate that the USB 3.0 port has been replaced with a slower version. We would also like to see an always-on voice control for the Galaxy Note, which already works great in the Moto X. Furthermore, we would like to see an IP certification. We still award additional points for the large number of good features and the S-Pen operation, even though the throttling is a bit annoying.

If you are looking for a high-end smartphone with many superlatives and you are willing to pay the corresponding price, then you will be happy with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The predecessor is also still a good choice if you want a less expensive smartphone.

The best phone Samsung has ever made

In the end the Note 4 is simply one of the top phones on the market right now. It is a top of the line phone, no doubt. It’s got some tough competition with phones like the LG G3 and Moto X on the market, but I think Samsung is slowly but surely on the right direction with their mobile phon...More

In the end the Note 4 is simply one of the top phones on the market right now. It is a top of the line phone, no doubt. It’s got some tough competition with phones like the LG G3 and Moto X on the market, but I think Samsung is slowly but surely on the right direction with their mobile phones and the Note 4 is the first huge step in that. In my book the Note 4 gets a score of 8.4 out of 10. Like any other phone on the market, the Note 4 is not without compromise, if fact it makes quite a few of them. In the end though, I really do think that the Note 4 is the best phone Samsung has ever made, yet...

A change in style, not in direction

In its niche, the Galaxy Note 4 has no serious rivals. We may have been expecting more new features, but it's still a step up from the Note 3. It's high in performance, elegant and heavily laden with productivity tools and apps. We might not necessarily recommend it if you already own a Note 3, b...More

In its niche, the Galaxy Note 4 has no serious rivals. We may have been expecting more new features, but it's still a step up from the Note 3. It's high in performance, elegant and heavily laden with productivity tools and apps. We might not necessarily recommend it if you already own a Note 3, but for everyone else, the Note 4 has incredible advantages that by far make up for its minor shortcomings.

The best Android smartphone, but not without its faults

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a must for all fans of the series, but it’s also a great alternative for those looking for a top-tier smartphone. Even those that started to hate Samsung for its inability to innovate will probably like the Galaxy Note 4, but there are haters, and then there are haters, so it’s hard to predict their attitude to product launched by a company they don’t like...

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a must for all fans of the series, but it’s also a great alternative for those looking for a top-tier smartphone. Even those that started to hate Samsung for its inability to innovate will probably like the Galaxy Note 4, but there are haters, and then there are haters, so it’s hard to predict their attitude to product launched by a company they don’t like.

All in all, I can’t recommend the Galaxy Note 4 more to all those who are looking for the most powerful smartphone on the market. On top of that, the phablet is quite the looker, so now there’s no reason to skip a Samsung flagship smartphone on a matter of design.

Before making your purchase though make sure you read about all the downsides of the Galaxy Note 4 because you might not be able to cope with one of more.

Still the king of phablets

For $300 on contract and ~$750 off contract, we’d say you’re getting a top end, truly flagship device for a decent (albeit average) price. If you’re on any other device looking to upgrade we’d say it’s worth a serious look. The only person we’d give caution to is a Note 3 user. The new Note is bigger and faster (and perhaps better) in every way. But is it worth the cost of upgrading and/or the hassle of doing the whole buy/sell thing? That’s a bit less of a sure bet...

For $300 on contract and ~$750 off contract, we’d say you’re getting a top end, truly flagship device for a decent (albeit average) price. If you’re on any other device looking to upgrade we’d say it’s worth a serious look. The only person we’d give caution to is a Note 3 user. The new Note is bigger and faster (and perhaps better) in every way. But is it worth the cost of upgrading and/or the hassle of doing the whole buy/sell thing? That’s a bit less of a sure bet.

Either way, Samsung has continued to iterate the Note 4 with hardware/software additions in a way that still makes it the king of phablets bar none.

Packing straight up heat

So, after all of this, should you buy the Galaxy Note 4? And what about the Nexus 6? Would that device be a better phablet option for consumers? Without spending any time with the Nexus 6, I can tell you a couple of things which might sway you to the Galaxy Note 4.

First, the software. Lollipop on the Nexus 6 offers no real value to the large size of the display. On the Note 4, there are a ton of features which take advantage of that 5.7″ Super AMOLED display, such as the Multi Window and S Pen capabilities. On the Nexus 6, the only multitasking you will be doing is through the recent apps button. Secondly, the camera on the Nexus 6, from what I can see in samples, can’t touch the Galaxy Note 4. Samsung delivers an absolute ton of additional camera settings, while Google’s camera application is extremely minimal and bare. Sure, you have Photo Sphere, but Samsung offers a version of Sphere of its own called Surround Shot. I suppose, if you are looking for a more complete Android experience (I really hate saying that), the Galaxy Note 4 might offer you more things to do...

So, after all of this, should you buy the Galaxy Note 4? And what about the Nexus 6? Would that device be a better phablet option for consumers? Without spending any time with the Nexus 6, I can tell you a couple of things which might sway you to the Galaxy Note 4.

First, the software. Lollipop on the Nexus 6 offers no real value to the large size of the display. On the Note 4, there are a ton of features which take advantage of that 5.7″ Super AMOLED display, such as the Multi Window and S Pen capabilities. On the Nexus 6, the only multitasking you will be doing is through the recent apps button. Secondly, the camera on the Nexus 6, from what I can see in samples, can’t touch the Galaxy Note 4. Samsung delivers an absolute ton of additional camera settings, while Google’s camera application is extremely minimal and bare. Sure, you have Photo Sphere, but Samsung offers a version of Sphere of its own called Surround Shot. I suppose, if you are looking for a more complete Android experience (I really hate saying that), the Galaxy Note 4 might offer you more things to do.

But back on the Galaxy Note 4 as a standalone device – the phone is fantastic. The screen is unmatched in quality, the camera delivers stunning shots in the right conditions, the battery life is best-in-class, and the specs make it a contender for heavyweight champion of the smartphone world.

If you can get past slight hiccups you might experience with TouchWiz, it is a great driver which will last you a very long time.

User Reviews

Failed after 1.5 years.

Phone reboots and shuts down to a reboot loop or "DOWNLOADING" loop. Removing battery seems to help but this is apparently tied to the rapid charge mode somehow. I have replaced the battery about 3 months ago and been very careful not to let it overheat or overcharge.

It sucks

Nice and Attractive Phone

Samsung galaxy Note 4 is great phone with android OS, v4.4.4, v5.0.1 version. This phone filled full features and latest trend to attract young generations. Their Li-Ion 3220 mAh battery give you last long backup to users. S-pen improvements and fast charging is most important features in galaxy Note 4.

Samsung galaxy Note 4 is great phone with android OS, v4.4.4, v5.0.1 version. This phone filled full features and latest trend to attract young generations. Their Li-Ion 3220 mAh battery give you last long backup to users. S-pen improvements and fast charging is most important features in galaxy Note 4.
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Powerful Smartphone

Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most powerful phones you can buy right now. It has a quality build, great screen, good battery life, replaceable battery, heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, S Pen and more.

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